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My sister-in-law’s ‘berry’ favorite places and all around farm and garden market is now one of MY favorite places, too. Smith Berry Barn, in Hillsboro, Oregon, is a wonderfully delightful experience with plants, flowers, pottery, chickens, goats, and of course: BERRIES–acres of berries!  Here you can have the fun of picking your own or just enjoy the entire experience of Smith’s and taking home some ‘ready pick’ berries (that means THEY did all the work of picking!) The owner invites us to taste, so we do – taste and taste – until we decide which variety we like the best (all?!).

But first, we want to try our hand at picking our own.

On the way to the berry patch, we stop to watch an entertaining mixed flock of chickens and visit with the goats that are looking for a handout. Feed for both is available from a dispenser for a quarter per handful.

It is fun to be out in the ‘patch’ with vines towering overhead and berries at all levels and every step. We pick a couple of buckets half-full (it is at least 3:1 — 3 for the picker and 1 for the pot so it takes awhile to fill a bucket!)

We head back with our harvest where the berries are weighed and boxed, then set aside with our ‘ticket’ for retrieval after visiting the gift shop.

The barn itself is a cute little gift/gourmet shop with a great selection of unique items of food (some of their own preserves, and local honey) as well as, kitchen & bath decor.  We are surprised and excited to find some of the American Spoon product line that we had discovered on a trip to Petosky, Michigan, a few years ago. Fresh milkshakes, espresso, and homemade baked goods are also available. We wander through the delightful gift shop after ordering one of their signature fresh berry milkshakes: Raspberry Lavender is our choice, delicious and refreshing.